School of Nursing Alumni of the Year

Victoria VanMeetren is a leading expert in healthcare administration in Las Vegas Valley. She began her career as a registered nurse in 1981. After earning her bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration, VanMeetren was promoted to associate administrator at Valley Hospital in 1989. In 1996, she transitioned to Catholic Healthcare West (now Dignity Health) and was responsible for building a medical office building, two ambulatory surgical centers, a rehab center, urgent care clinic, and the Siena Campus. In 2004, VanMeetren returned to UNLV’s Executive MBA program after she applied for the president and CEO position of the San Martin Campus. She graduated in 2005 with her executive MBA, landed the job as CEO. She built a second hospital for Dignity Health, the San Martin Campus, which opened in 2006.

As CEO of the San Martin Campus, the hospital received the J.D. Power and Associate’s Distinguished Hospital Inpatient Service Award in 2011. The facility was a certified stroke hospital and had a certified chest pain program and a headache program through The Joint Commission. Under her leadership the hospital was ranked number one by U.S. World & News Report in the specialty areas of neurology and neurosurgery.

VanMeetren maintains active involvement in several community service organizations. She serves on the Board of Trustees for the Las Vegas Metro Chamber of Commerce and co-chairs their healthcare committee. She is also a member of the Foundation board for Nevada State College and serves on the Governor’s Workforce Investment Board as a member of the industry intelligence subcommittee. She has traveled with the UNLV EMBA Program to China, Africa, Poland, and Prague. She speaks routinely to audiences about healthcare changes with the Affordable Care Act and mentors students.